"Dope Sick" and Walter Dean Myers

The ever prolific Walter Dean Myers, who has just been nominated for Ibby's prestigious Hans Christian Anderson Award along with Eric Carle, David Almond and Eoin Colfer, has a new book out. Dope Sick treads similar territory to Monster. An inner-city youth gets caught up in a crime and, hearing his story, it's up to the reader to decide his degree of culpability. This time there is more than a touch of magic realism. Cornered by the police in an abandoned drug lair, Lil J, is confronted by a young homeless man who's TV set can play back scenes of Lil J's life. Fans of Monster, Myers and authors like Paul Volponi (Black and White) are likely readers. This is a gritty look at the life of a kid, already a father and already deluding himself about his drug use, who may or may not, depending on the reader's viewpoint, deserve a second chance. Lot of stars for this one from reviewing journals, and it is highly readable, standing far above most YA lit. Yet, it doesn't outdo Monster, which remains, in my mind, Myers' best.